Power-transmission mechanism.



H. F. HERMAN. POWER TRANSMISSION MECHANISM. APPLICATION FlLEDAUG-QO. I914.

,,,, 2 6 42 Patented Nov. 13, 1917 Hirmv E urn/l I W WQ/ E' 35 element and without participation in said UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

HENRY F. HERMAN, or cnarrnooa, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR m IMPERIAL- Piano PLAYER COMPANY, a CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

rownn-rniuvsmrssxon MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d N Application: filed August 20, 1914. I Serial No. 857,627.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. HERMAN,

a citizen oflthe United States, residing in Chappaqua, W estchester county, and b'tate of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmission Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

1 This invention relates to power transmis sion mechanism and to the cooperative relations and coaction of machine elements, or the moving parts of a mechanical mechanism, in eflecting such transmlssion.

It has for its object the use of electroinagnetisinin the connection and actuating of such parts and in the control of their relative cooperation, sothat the power may beapplied and transmittedcr released as desired, and the operation of the machine or mechanism be thus controlled. V

The invention may beapplied to awide range of diiferent physicaL-parts, and by mcansof various mechanical principles, the basic feature of the invention being the provision of a' magnetizable element, or unit; such as amagnet or magnet core, as one in a series of cooperating parts, another of said cooperating parts serving as armature to'connect or transmit power from its source or a driving element to a driven element or the work to be eifected,-such magnetizable part constituting a part:of either the driving or driven elements and being-free to move and coact with the armature constituting a part of the other movements by the electro-magnetic means employed to energize said magnet.

This is accomplished by transmitting the electric force to said magnet or magnet core across an air gap intervening between said magnet core and electric circuit-windings to energize the same, whereby the magnet core is free to have movement throughout said air gap and within the field of said windings, or circuit coil, independently of move: ment by said coil and=while said coil may remain motionless. f

It is obvious that a magnetizable part in such conditions acting as a magnet core may have a great variety of forms :and-

may make various operative connections either 'physical or by magnetism, with other parts-with which it may coact, and that by.

controlling the electric circuit, throng means to make and break-the same thesaid magnet may be successively energized and deenergized as desired, and thus itsroiiperative movements be controlled. -.:--The parts employedmay exist iii-any relative force and size-and the electriccurrent may varyasrequired. ;l Tlh movement of the magnet core may be of any nature and of any degree within the electric field of 'the electromagnetic Wl11dlI1gS,- such as reciprocatin orrotary, or may be transversey-tothe .p ane. of the windings or parallel therewith,- the limit-ation of movement being theextent' of the airlgap and the strength oftheelectro-magnetic means. 5

It will be seen that the magnetic results are obtained or applied by having the connectingaparts of the operative mechanism act as {armature to said core as magnet. The said core acts as a connecting medium op-.- erat -vely :uniting the said parts and is mechanically connected: to one of the same and magnetically to the'other as armature, this latter connection being 'subjectito' control through the electric circuit.

In this way the operative connection of the parts is releasable by 'deenergizingsthe magnet, and the parts may remain ini'o'perative contact ready to be again made ;operative upon :again ener izin thenma'g'net through the control of tie-e ectric circuit. -In the embodiment of the inventionillus. trated in the drawing;- accompanying and forming apart of this specification, Figure 1 shows .in a diagrammaticmanner the illvention'applied to the operative mechanism of a piano-player or player-pianopand Fig. 2 is a detail plan view. partly in section, of an electro-magnet and a portionof the armature shaft. Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout the dififerent views'of the drawing. ix Incarrying out the object of the invention as shown in the drawing, an armature shaft 1 of soft iron is continuously revolv: ing in the direction indicated by the arrow 2, under any. convenient source of poweror drivingelement of which it may constitute a part. A magnet 3' in contact 'with the shaft 1 is supported by a stem 4 connected, as at6, with and depending -from a walking beam or lever 5. .The lever 5 is pivotally supported, as at 8, in a block 7. ivotally connected at the opposite end of the lever, as at 10 is a depending stem 9 havin upon its lower fe'n'd' a suitable block 11 adapted to strike and depress a key 50 of'a piano. A'spool or coil support 12 is carried by a fixed supporting member 13, said spool havingupon its outer face a channel or recess 217th receive and hold a' ivire circuit coil or windings 14 to energize the ma net. 6i!"- euit wires 15 and 16 in circuit with a battery :17 lead tosaid jcoi'l spool and are wet-ma thereon as required. The magnet 3 is in the form 'of'a lett'e'i U, or substantially U-sh'ape in cross sect-'ion-,--as clearly shown inFig. 2, and embraces-one side or circumference of the spool 12 and coil 14 whereby the circuit coil or windings surround the said magnet as a core. The poles -18 and -19 cf the magnet contact with the shaft 1 as armature in a. line with the horizontal plane of the axis of the arrna t'u-r'e; and when energized magnetically adh'eie o'r cling thereto.

It will be obvious that the core 3 when energized will cling to the shaft 1 and be driven upward through said magnetic cling in a plane tangent to the armature, as indica'ted by the alinenient of the. stem "1, thus imparting linear movement to the core and will thrust or push up the connected lever end and depress the opposite end to which the stem 9 is connected causing the key to be struck by the block 11. Upon dee'nen' gizing the magnet it will drop under gravity to its original position and the influence of the piano key as the latter is returned by its spring ready to repeat this operation upon being again energized.

The spool or coi'l support 12 has upon its central or inner portion an open space 20 which may be ofany relative proportions desired, and may be made to accommodate any mechanical parts or machine elements which it is desired to pass therethrough and to allow such movement therein as required by the operative actions of such parts.

As the circuit wires, or magnet windings, are carried upon the external circumference of said spool they will'of course. surround any part or magnet core placed therein and upon the completion of an electric circuit therethrough will energize the same.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the magnet 3 will upon being energized cling to't'he ieiolvin'g shaft 1 and will be 'theteby carried upward within the space 20, in a direction -'su=bstantia-l'ly para llel with the planes of the windings of thecoil, and substantially at right angles to its longitudinal extent or its length of passage through said windings, the size and shape of said space being designed to accommodate such moi''ment. Also, as shown, the side of the spool-embraced byfthe inagnet serves as a guide to direct and aline the movements of the magnet.

It will be; noted that the magnet 23 is energized by the coil 14 across the air gap 20 and that this is done without any coil or winding upon the actual magnet itself, and withoutl the use or intervention of any circuit wires or windings other than those 'upon-thespoUlIQ'separated from the magnet by an air gap.

The spool 12 is indented or supported in fined position, 'a-s span the support 13, and does not move-or participate-in the movements of the magnet.- The advantagesof these an aagenemsare may. All p-l'iysie'al con'nedt ions o'r circa its, such as flexible wires, nios able joint'eenneehon -and friction su'rface contacts, are avoided in energizing the reagent, thus disposing of inany circuit troubles and also fi eei n g the moving parts from hampering restrictions upon their aetion as Well as opening a field to the successful use of hilign'ets in cooperative mechmine of many kinds where not now e'n1- ployeel.

The magnet is energized by circuit cohduc'to'r tires 15 and 1'6 in circuit with the battery -'17 and 'tlii s'c'iic-ui t, in the present instance, is controlled by means of the usual perforated paper m usi'c control sheet, hid'iCatedatZS. This control sheet is wound from 'a spool onto a take-up roll *2? and passes over a trt'eker bar 23 This trackerbar is of non-conductor material pierced by pins -o'f conductor material, one for each p'iano key,- one end of the pins being flu-sh with the upper face of the tracker-bar and at their opposite ends projecting, as at '25, at which point they are connected with the circuit wires 1'6, one circuit for each key. The circuit wire 29 connects with a brush 21- bearing a line of conductor wires 22 upon its face, all of which'wires are constantly in circuit and contacting through the perfor'ations in the IDSJIDBI' control sheet with the pins '24 in the tracker-bar as said control sheet in its progress successively exposes said pins to such brush.

It will be seen that upon making such contact the'circuit-is completed in case of each key,--or more, so contacting, and thereupon the magnet is energized and clings to the revolvings'haft, thus striking the key. Upon the passing of the perforation the. circuit is broken and the magnet delnerg-i'zed and returns to initial position.

,Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. in a. power transmission mechanism, the combination withya driving element and a driven element, of a reciproca-ble magnetizmble core connected to one of said elements; a stationary electric cireuiteoil-snrlOO rounding said core with a space within the g dr en elements; i

the combination with drivin elements ofn continuously? revoluble s it of magnetiznble'mnterial constituting :tptirt "of one ofesaidelemen ts; a reciprocable mag netizable core i connected to the other ele- .ment to contact with the shaft i thehorizontal plzineof the axis f the shaft "and" magnetically v have reciproczitory movement in a planetam Wgential to the; peripherye'of the shaft; and njelectric t r t it 'o v fmovement in a direction ubstantially paral-f lel with indingsgof the mngn .In a power transmission mechanism comblnatlo w th-n dmvmg element and (ifa,, revolnble l sald elements; a

blecore connected tothe other element and I" hen energized coacting with the armature to magnetically connect the" driving and drivenjelement's; and a fixedelectrio circuit boil for said coterel atiye tomwhich coil the? ihas' re procable-movernentinarhr sh sift Operating as a driving e ment; fiIECIpIQCflblB .mz gnetizable core (:0

heated to land operating with a driven e riving'anddriven eleme ts; n magnetizaf ble core mechanically connectecltdhnia of t5 and whenenergized magneti- 1 Q ctecl to the other element; and an electric cireuit coil toenergize the core, said i i core construct d to have a. s'pacb tween the coilhnd core I dependentmovement Within the coilina di rection snbstantiallypa rallel With-the ,ings of the coi1.--" f f" In a power transmission mechanism,

a line with with the she-ft an) the planes" of the 5. In a power trahsmissio the eombination.ofdriving and I e v "jments; "a" continuously revolnb e ermat constituting apart of one of said elements 1 7 i a IGCIPIOCfiblB magnetizable core "constitubg ing a, part of the other element and when energized coacting with the armature to 1 'opeiatiirely conhect the driving and driven v 1 elements; and ,a-n'electric "circuit coil forthe orenwithin which coil the, coremoves withut participating movement by. the. coil in inding's of thecoil. n

In power transmission mechanismy-n,

tlnuonsly. revolultlle armatureioperdtive connected withocoactingnzirtsjof a motive v ,mechanis my. a reciprocable magnetizabl cote also, opel 'ntively connected withconcty ing partsfof emotive mechanism andfmagf permitthe c'o reto hnve inA tary movement movement ticlpating movementof the el m ftlirei shaft operating with i i it El r c p o Ina'gnetiz nble core op; e'ratine' with the driven element and" when tially 1i iral heco.

and driven a t, 'wlththe armature shaft of th rounding I rcuitw ndings aronhd he coregwhereb sa' ate Within the spool a n av clitection snlostentially parallel w :h the windingsof the coil thoht; pa

P v the combinnt n with' d 'v'ng and cl fa Contih o'n'sl energizedtmngneticallyi coacting' with :the

ai'mai-tn'reshnft to impart movement from the; drivingthroughthe shaftzto the driven element through th n dir'ection substantially" parellelgwith the" mechanism,

the driving ele e continu usly r luble arma u e ev e in therewith, an electric circu t coil surround ing said core having an opening interior of said'coil whereby said core may make reiprccating movement within the coil ina direction substantially parallel with the,

planes-ofthe winding of the coil,

I 11. In electrmmagnets, a, magnetizable core, an electric-circuit coil surrounding said ebre and energizing the same, t fixe sup- 7 port for the coil, said coil having an opening within its inner portiOn to permit the] core to have movement therein in a' direction subStantially parallel with the planes of the windings of a d withoutmoving seldc i I and n indepe den o rc 0t po e to inn part moveme t o aid co 12.111 3 power transmission mechanism,

.the combination of a continuously revoluhle energize said coil.

l3. The combination of a continuously. re roluhle armature and an .electrornagnet including a U-shaped core supported with the pole faces to have contact with the periphery of the armature in a line arallel with the axis thereof and magnetical ycling thereto when energized to transmit move ment from one to the other. v r

14. The combination of. a continuously revolttble armature and an electromagnet, in-, cluding an energizingcoil and'a core of U= shape in crosssection supported with the pole faces to have contact with the armature in a linevparallel with the axisthereof and magnetically cling thereto when energize to m t mov m nt from e rmture to the core,

5- The c mbinatio o c ntin eus y e we 9.13M! w n max 1 J9me meanes inc parallel with the! axis of the armature.

and magnetically cling thereto when energ-ized te ra m mo eme t from one to t eth 1 i v .16. Th $0.. ,bi etion of a c ntinuo s y ev- 'elu lei armature e d n ele t mag e in- 52L .meemnflgmme c011 d a (3 30 she e n cI'Q$ ,eQtiO n supported ndependv oluble armature and a e e tre agnet ine ee c re 9 ue hl p'e i cr s e t on np r ed independently o the rm t re with the ele faces to havefeont ct h h arma ure in a line par lle with the x s f. the arm ture and an ene gi ing eoi to the ore ha ing no conn c i n w th e e,

se megne ee hen, ergized magneti: cally cling ngto the armaturetto have more- Inent imparted theretofrom, the armature without participating movement of the energizing coil. i v H 17. The'combination"; with a some of electricity; of. a continuously revoluble armaturegan eleqtromagnet in circuit with the source of electricity supported independent of the armature with the pole faces to have contact with the armature in a line-parallel withthe axis thereof and. a rnake and break contact in the circuit. I

c 18. The combination with a source of electricity, ofa (continuously revoluble arma-v ture; an: electnomagnetin circuit with the source of, electricity supported independent oi the armature with the pole faces to have contact with the periphery of the armature m k and br ak ac in the, c cu nd the circuit.

witnessee l I PAULA PHILIPP, flame than;

in a line parallel with the axis. thereof; a

HENRY r, HERMAN.

m cent each. by i mhs h "i mini uei oi nt t! e W shmnmnG-f 1 y a n 

